Alcohol sales zoom 62%: Changes in Utah's population among reasons for inc

[NVMojo]

Changes in Utah's population among reasons for increase

August 6, 2006

Despite Utahns' reputation for drinking little, state liquor stores and licensed restaurants are now selling a staggering 62 percent more alcoholic beverages by volume than they did a decade ago.
Kim Raff, Deseret Morning NewsAllan Valdez shops at a state liquor store in Salt Lake City. Utah's per-capita consumption is up 24 percent over the past decade, partly due to consumption of "harder" alcoholic drinks. But such increases may not mean that Utahns are drinking more alcohol overall, just that they are drinking more of the "harder" alcoholic drinks available from the state liquor and wine stores.
The big hike in sales is not just from growth in population. When controlling for that by calculating consumption on a per-person rate, those sales have foamed up by 24 percent since 1996.
"Now it seems like every day is the day before Christmas" at crowded state stores, said Kenneth Wynn, director of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
To explain, the Beer Institute estimates that beer sales here — including the low-alcohol (3.2 percent) beer sold in grocery and convenience stores — dropped 4.7 percent over the past decade.

more...

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,640200361,00.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. I'm getting drunk more often

the future looks bleak... it's a great panacea.

My liver may argue that point. :shrug:

[Dr.Phool]

2. The liver is evil!!! It must be punished!!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. I'd pour another...

but I have to work tomorrow. :(

bad liver! bad bad liver! :spank:

[napi21]

3. Maybe more people are moving there who aren't mormons?

Or maybe the younger generation Mormons are telling Mom & Dad I just don't buy it?

I don't know.

I've been to Salt Lake twice, and it's the most beautiful place to fly into that I've ever seen! Maybe Utahans are changing?????

[WindRavenX]

5. lol, I may be moving to Utah

My SO is from Utah, and he recently moved back to Utah. Long story short, this bona fide communist and soon to be biology teacher is going to move from MA to UT.

LOL

[Solo_in_MD]

6. Living in Utah could indeed drive one to drink

[NVMojo]

7. I'll drink to that! heehee

[sleipnir]

8. The prices are dirt cheep to buy hard liquor in Utah.

I lived there for a summer about 4 years ago, and let me tell you, I have never seen cheaper prices on bottles of hard liquor. It was even cheaper than across the border in Satan's Playground (Nevada.) As I recall, the price of a bottle of Maker's Mark was about $14, 2 dollars cheaper than when I bought a bottle in Kentucky on my way out there.

The guy running the liquor store explained that the State of Utah buys in bulk (and they are one of the largest bulk buyers in America for liquor) and gets amazing rates. I believe he mentioned how the state can only legally run up the price to a certain percent of the wholesale rate. Thus, prices are very cheep.

When you consider the cost/benefit of buying a bottle of 80 Proof liquor over some shitty 3.2 beer, there is no choice.

[OnyxCollie]

9. I last visited Utah three years ago.

The rules on alcohol were changed back then. A waitress told us it was to cater to the tourist trade. Prior to that, it was pretty draconian. I walked into a restaurant/bar and ordered a beer. As the bartender was pulling my draft, I couldn't help but notice the 18" high metal divider that ran down the length of the bar. I reached over the divider to grab my beer and the bartender said, "You're not from Utah, are you?" The bartender said alcohol had to be kept in a separate room from where it was served. Hence, the "wall". So, he walked down to the end of the bar, through the opening, and handed me my beer. I felt my soul had been saved.

The state liquor stores (the only place to buy alcohol) were closed on Mondays.

I ordered a beer and a shot in with my dinner. The waitress brought both to the table, but said I had to finish the shot before she could give me the beer. Couldn't have two drinks in front of me at the same time.

[Drum]

10. Dave Attel (on Comedy Central) did a visit to Salt Lake City

on his Insomniac Tour---hilarious surveys of big cities' late-night offerings---a couple of years ago. In SLC, they made much of the fact that cocktails in bars were only made from liquor in mini-bottles (like those on airplanes and hotel mini-bars.) Even had a drink with the Mayor of SLC. There were, I recall, some strange laws there with the alcohol, and the mini-bottle regulation seemed to result in some wicked-stiff drinks and a helluva lot of recycling!
Are mini-s still the rule there?

[WhiteTara]

11. you mean you can buy more than itty bitty bottles

of liquor at a time there now? I haven't been to Utah in a long time, but last I was there the liquor laws were so ridiculous as to be laughable. You can't drink, but you can screw your daughter. Somehow I was always confused on their concepts of morality. Glad to see you can have a decent drink these days. The glories of cheap prolific California wine can't be overstated.

[nealmhughes]

12. I'm from the Tennessee Valley, and if it is charming to hear of the

Uthanians turn around. What would one do without Jack Daniels and George Dickle in Tennesee and over the border in Bardstown, Mess. Beam? Why even little old ladies who "don't drink" knock back their "special cough syrup" and "toddies to help me sleep" like it was lemonaide at home!

Now, if they would just get rid of the magic drawers and tell me what they feed that mysterious giant salamander they keep in their temple. I know they have it! Why won't they show it off?